Nigeria cannot fully unlock the potential of its aviation sector while women remain underrepresented in key areas of the industry, according to Stephanie Obiano, chief executive officer of Furalle Limited.
Gatekeepers News reports that Obiano said women need to move beyond participation and take up leadership positions in safety management, regulatory institutions, airline operations, airport administration, and technical engineering roles.
She noted that women bring leadership qualities crucial to the sector’s growth, including transformational leadership, operational discipline, sensitivity to risk, and long-term strategic thinking.
Speaking on Nigeria’s Air Service Agreements (ASAs), Obiano said the deals present major opportunities but warned that they would not automatically translate into economic gains without building local capacity.
“Nigeria’s Air Service Agreements with multiple countries provide enormous opportunity, but agreements alone do not generate economic benefit—capacity does,” she said.
“If we lack skilled personnel to operate, maintain, and manage aviation infrastructure, foreign operators will dominate the value chain. Our institution exists to ensure Nigerians capture that value.”
Obiano explained that her decision to invest in aviation education was influenced by Nigeria’s continued dependence on foreign expertise in critical technical fields.
“Nigeria has immense aviation potential, yet we still depend on foreign expertise in critical sectors. That imbalance is not sustainable for a country with our economic aspirations,” she said.
She said FurAlle Aviation College was established to build indigenous aviation manpower at scale, stressing that aviation plays a strategic role beyond transportation, touching trade, tourism, security, and economic sovereignty.
“If Nigeria is serious about becoming a $1 trillion economy, we must build technical capacity locally,” she added.
Addressing the challenges of operating in a male-dominated industry, Obiano said competence has been her strongest advantage.
“In aviation, credibility is everything—you cannot fake it. I focus on delivering value, building systems, and solving problems. When you consistently deliver results, resistance turns into respect,” she said.
She also highlighted the importance of collaboration across the aviation ecosystem, including regulators, operators, ground handlers, and financiers.
“Aviation is a collaborative industry. Strategy and emotional intelligence are just as important as technical expertise,” she said.
Obiano further challenged the perception that aviation is only for pilots or the wealthy, describing it instead as a diverse and skills-driven sector.
“Aviation spans engineering, safety management, logistics, airport operations, air traffic services, maintenance, cargo management, regulatory compliance, and security. It is not a status-driven field—it is a skills-driven one,” she said.
On institutional priorities, she listed safety, technical excellence, integrity, regulatory compliance, discipline, and professionalism as core values guiding the college.
“We are not about producing certificate holders; we aim to produce industry-ready professionals,” she added.
Speaking on training and safety standards, Obiano said the institution aligns with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and global best practices, with emphasis on Safety Management Systems (SMS), human factors, and operational risk assessment.
“Safety culture is not a module—it is embedded in everything we do,” she said, adding that modern aviation training should include digital simulation, AI-driven learning, compliance analytics, and international certification pathways.
She stressed that capacity development will determine whether Nigeria can fully benefit from its growing aviation footprint and bilateral agreements.
Reflecting on her leadership journey, Obiano said being underestimated early on was one of the biggest challenges she faced.
“Early on, there were assumptions that aviation strategy and infrastructure discussions were too technical. I overcame that by mastering policy, regulation, operations, and bilateral frameworks. Knowledge neutralises bias, and competence dismantles stereotypes,” she said.
Offering advice to young women interested in the industry, she urged them to invest in technical knowledge, build confidence rooted in competence, seek mentorship, and remain resilient.
“Aviation is not a quick-win industry—it is a precision industry,” she said.
“To every young Nigerian woman: there is space for you—not just in the cabin, but in the control tower, boardroom, engineering bays, and regulatory leadership. Nigeria’s aviation future will be built by those bold enough to prepare for it—and we are preparing.”
